Nokea
Glass
I wonder who first discovered glass. This commodity has been a part of civilization from the very beginning. Imagine a world without glass! How dark and dismal it would be. No windows, corrective lenses, telescopes, microscopes, cameras, sparkly drinking containers or mirrors. Life would not be the same without this wonderful discovery. Thank you, whoever found glass!
Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements. It is a hard, brittle, transparent solid material composed mainly of silica, with additives to change the character of the glass. Common additives are soda, lime, lead, and boron. Each additive changes the properties of the final product. Soda and lime are the most common additives, accounting for about 90% of glass production. Adding lead increases reflectivity, causing the glass to "sparkle." The addition of boron changes the thermal and electrical properties of glass, allowing cookware that can be used in the oven without shattering.
What conclusion can be drawn from the information included in the article?
- A. New uses for glass are constantly being discovered.
- B. Glass is no longer used in modern technology.
- C. The production of glass is declining rapidly.
- D. Glass is too brittle to be used in new applications.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The article discusses the various uses and properties of glass, highlighting its significance in everyday life. It mentions that glass is a versatile material with different additives that change its properties, allowing for diverse applications such as windows, lenses, telescopes, and cookware. The article does not suggest that glass usage is decreasing or that it is too brittle for new applications. Therefore, the most appropriate conclusion from the information provided is that new uses for glass are constantly being discovered, as its properties and versatility continue to be explored.
You may also like to solve these questions
Not only the students but also the professor ___ stunned by the test results.
- A. was
- B. were
- C. are
- D. be
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In this sentence, 'students' and 'professor' are part of a compound subject joined by 'not only...but also,' which makes the subject singular. Since the subjects are singular, the correct verb to use is 'was,' making choice A the correct answer.
Mr. Rogers' Biography
"It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood!" This familiar line always began the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood program on PBS. The amazing Fred Rogers brought a special message to children around the world. He believed that each person is unique and wonderful in his or her own way and we should accept others just the way they are without trying to change or improve them. Mr. Rogers spread his tolerance message far and wide through the daily broadcasts of his television show, his many books, and finally after his retirement through his website specifically designed for children. Through these venues, Mr. Rogers helped children deal with the real world things that bothered them, such as doctor visits, haircuts, and new siblings.
Fred Rogers left a legacy of kindness, acceptance, and an unending love of learning for all generations
According to the passage, what did Fred Rogers believe in?
- A. Uniformity
- B. Conformity
- C. Uniqueness
- D. Obedience
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fred Rogers believed in uniqueness, as stated in the passage. He advocated that each person is unique and wonderful in their own way, promoting acceptance without trying to change or improve others. This aligns with the message of embracing individuality and diversity, rather than conformity or uniformity. Therefore, the correct answer is C: 'Uniqueness'.
Electrocardiogram Beep!…Beep!…Beep! is the audible rhythmic sound made as the strength of the heart muscle is measured. The signal cadence has a characteristic record that varies in every individual. This record is called an electrocardiogram, or ECG. In the body, an array of systemic neural responses constantly occur, emitting electric currents. The electric currents can be detected on the surface of the body, and if a person is hooked to an amplifier, these impulses are recorded by an electrocardiograph. Most of the information obtained is about the heart because the heart sends out electric currents in waves. his “wave of excitation†spreads through the heart wall and is accompanied by electric changes. The wave takes place in three distinct steps. Initially, the “wave of excitation†accompanied by an electric change lasts for approximately 1 to 2 seconds after the contraction of the cardiac muscle. The electric impulses are discharged rhythmically from the sinoatrial (SA) node, the pacemaker of the heart. This spread of excitation over the muscle of the atrium indicates that the atrium has contracted. Next, the peak of the ECG reading is due to the atrioventricular (AV) node, causing the ventricle to become excited. Finally, the ventricles relax, and any changes in the wave indicate to trained medical staff any abnormalities within the heart.
What are the three steps of the 'wave of excitation'?
- A. The discharge from the SA node, the peak ECG, and the excitement of the ventricle.
- B. The excitement of the ventricle, the relaxing of the ventricle, and the systemic neural response.
- C. The contraction of the atrium, the relaxation of the atrium, and the contraction of the ventricle.
- D. The excitation of the atrium, the excitement of the ventricle, and the relaxing of the ventricle.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the 'wave of excitation,' the first step involves the excitation of the atrium, which is initiated by the discharge from the SA node. The second step is the excitement of the ventricle, which is represented by the peak ECG reading. Lastly, the third step involves the relaxing of the ventricle. These three steps are crucial in understanding the electrical activity of the heart and how it is reflected in an electrocardiogram (ECG). Therefore, choice D, 'The excitation of the atrium, the excitement of the ventricle, and the relaxing of the ventricle,' correctly identifies the three sequential steps in the 'wave of excitation' during a cardiac cycle.
The Rainforest
The Amazon River Basin is home to the largest rainforest on Earth. The basin -- roughly the size of the forty-eight contiguous United States -- covers some 40% of the South American continent, and portions of eight countries. The basin is drained by the Amazon River, the world's largest river in terms of discharge, and the second longest river in the world after the Nile.
Since 1970, over 600,000 square kilometers (232,000 square miles) of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed. This deforestation is mainly due to land clearing for pastureland by commercial and speculative interests, misguided government policies, and commercial exploitation of forest resources.
Deforestation of the rainforest has long-term implications. The loss of habitat for many creatures ensures their extinction. The loss of vegetation depletes the oxygen in the atmosphere, which some say causes global warming.
According to the article, which statement is true?
- A. The Amazon is a clear blue during most of its length.
- B. The Amazon is the longest river in the world.
- C. The Nile carries the most boat traffic of any river in the world.
- D. The Nile is the longest river in the world.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The article mentions that the Amazon River is the second longest river in the world after the Nile. Therefore, the correct statement according to the article is D, that the Nile is the longest river in the world. The other options are either incorrect or not discussed in the passage. This question tests the understanding of the information provided in the passage about the Amazon River and its ranking in terms of length compared to the Nile.
It is a well-known fact that it takes the Earth approximately 365 days to orbit the Sun. At the same time, the Earth revolves or spins around itself over the course of 24 hours, which explains why we experience day and night. One half of the Earth is always facing the Sun, while the other half is facing away. As a result, different time zones divide the globe. Moving suddenly from one time zone to another, such as when flying from Asia to North America, can cause jet lag. People often feel tired, wake up suddenly during the night, and cannot return to sleep. It takes time to adjust to a new time zone. Another important factor to consider is the slight tilt of the Earth toward the Sun. The Earth does not stand straight but leans slightly to one side. Therefore, when it revolves around the Sun, the middle part of the Earth is always closer to the Sun and receives more heat. This area is called the equator, and the regions above and below it are known as the tropics. Countries located in the tropics receive a consistent amount of daylight throughout the year, with the Sun rising at 6 AM and setting at 6 PM. In contrast, the tips of the Earth, or the poles, receive hardly any light because they are so far from the Sun. There are two main seasons at the poles: 6 months of summer, when the Sun is always shining (even at night), and 6 months of winter, characterized by constant darkness. Between the tropics and the poles lies the temperate zone, where there are four distinct seasons. The Sun rises and sets at different times throughout the year. In spring and summer, it gets light earlier; in fall and winter, it gets dark earlier. People living in temperate zones take advantage of this variation to maximize their daylight exposure. At the beginning of spring, countries in Europe and North America readjust their clocks by moving them an hour ahead. As a result, the Sun does not set around 7 or 8 PM as usual, but an hour later. This practice is called Daylight Savings Time (DST) and lasts until the beginning of fall, when people move their clocks back one hour to Standard or Regular Time. It is believed that Benjamin Franklin first suggested the introduction of Daylight Savings Time in the 18th century, but the first serious proposal came in 1907 from William Willet. However, his idea was shelved by the British government, which deemed it unnecessary. Daylight Savings Time was first implemented by the German government in 1916 in order to save energy during World War I. Shortly after, the United Kingdom followed suit, with the United States doing the same in 1918. The law was unpopular, as people had to wake up earlier, leading many to experience a feeling similar to jet lag. However, the energy crisis of the 1970s forced the U.S. to establish Daylight Savings Time as law. Studies showed that the introduction of Daylight Savings Time in the spring saved the U.S. 10,000 barrels of oil per day between 1974 and 1975. It also prevented 2,000 traffic injuries and 50 traffic-related deaths, saving the country $28 million. Currently, Americans switch to Daylight Savings Time on the first Sunday in April and revert to Standard Time on the last Sunday in October. As of 2007, the time adjustments occur even earlier in March and November.
Was Daylight Savings Time popular in the beginning?
- A. Yes, people wanted to save energy.
- B. Yes, people like staying up late in the summer months.
- C. No, there was a war at that time and people hated it.
- D. No, people felt tired because they couldn't sleep that long.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Daylight Savings Time was not popular in the beginning. When it was first introduced, people experienced negative effects such as feeling tired due to having to adjust their sleep schedules. The rationale mentions that the law was very unpopular, people had to wake up earlier, and many experienced a feeling like jetlag. These challenges led to people not liking Daylight Savings Time initially.